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USA 1994: Brazil emerge victorious as US serves up World Cup full of glitz and glamour

Andy Schooler reflects on the year 'Soccer' went Stateside - minus England - and served up some decent football that most fans had been deprived of in Italy four years previously.

'Soccer' went Stateside in 1994, even if England didn't, and thankfully served up some decent football that most fans had been deprived of in Italy four years previously.

It was predictably full of glitz and glamour and crowds were huge, but even before holders Germany kicked off the tournament with a 1-0 win over Bolivia, the hosts were causing a stir.

With TV dominating sport in the country, organisers wanted games split into four quarters rather than two halves. Fifa soon laughed that off.

Another of my enduring memories also came before a ball had been kicked.

At the opening ceremony at Soldier Field, Chicago, Diana Ross was on hand to 'do the honours' but woefully failed to find the net from six yards.

TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Player of the tournament: Romario

Pushed hard by Baggio who would probably have claimed the award if things had worked out differently in the shoot-out, Romario had an outstanding month in the States. Playing at his peak, the small yet sturdy striker was a handful for all defences as he linked up superbly with strike partner Bebeto. His pace and tricky footwork baffled many a defender and resulted in him finishing with five goals and a winner's medal.

Goal of the tournament: Saeed Owairan (Saudi Arabia v Belgium)

An unlikely name to win this award, but Saeed Owairan certainly deserved it. Setting off from his own half, no-one could have realised the ball would end in the Belgian net. But it did as the midfielder ran from deep in the Saudi half and left defender after defender in his wake before finding the target for a remarkable solo effort.

Match of the tournament: Brazil 3 Holland 2 (quarter-finals)

Romania produced an excellent performance to defeat Argentina in the last 16, but in terms of thrills, this game had it all. Undoubtedly involving two of the best teams in the tournament, Brazil led 2-0 before being pegged back to 2-2. But just when the Dutch looked to be writing their own piece of history came Branco's late winner. And of course, we had the Brazil 'baby' celebration.

Fortunately, the real players were a little more lethal in front of the target - none more so than Russian Oleg Salenko. He netted a Cup record five goals in one first-round game against Cameroon. He would finish as the joint winner of the Golden Boot with six alongside Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov.


That game was one for the statisticians. It also featured a goal from Roger Milla.

More from World Cup History

Such a success at Italia '90, Milla was unable to recreate that magic but did manage to become the oldest player (officially 42 although it is thought he was older) to score in the finals.

Those were the only stats that really mattered from that 6-1 Russian win as both sides had already made their exit from Group B from which eventual winners Brazil plus Sweden emerged.

With Fifa sticking with their questionable qualification system of eliminating only eight teams at the first stage, three teams made it through from Group A - Romania, Switzerland and the hosts.

But the games would be overshadowed by an event in another country, miles from the action.

Colombia had entered the tournament as many people's dark horses but failed miserably.

And when Andres Escobar netted a disastrous own goal against USA, he effectively signed his own death warrant. On his return to Colombia, Escobar was shot dead outside a restaurant, supposedly as he had cost local drug barons money in lost bets.

Predictably, the Germans and Spain emerged from Group C, although there were plenty in Britain cheering on South Korea when they fought back from 3-0 down to 3-2 against Berti Vogts' men.

Group D threw up plenty of memories. Gabriel Batistuta netted a hat-trick against whipping boys Greece but that was not the image to live in the mind. That was to be Diego Maradona's bizarre antics as the celebrating striker snorted his distorted expression into a TV camera.

Days later the world found out he'd taken the banned stimulant ephedrine and was sent home in disgrace.

Stoichkov got his tally moving with two penalties against the woeful Greeks who remain the only side to qualify and never score a goal at the finals. They also let in 10.

But it was Nigeria and the net-shaking Daniel Amokachi who topped the table after a surprise defeat for the Argentines in their final game against Bulgaria left them in third and with a tough second-round encounter with Romania.

The Irish were the side everyone in Britain was following and they didn't disappoint as they stunned Italy with a Ray Houghton goal in the Group E opener.

It proved to be the tightest group with a turgid Norway proving hard to beat, and Mexico revelling in their underdog role.

The Mexicans got the better of Ireland in Orlando as boss Jack Charlton whinged about water as his side wilted in the heat.

Rant

John Aldridge's swearing rant at an official as he was delayed coming on as sub also raised a smile.

But unable to beat Norway, Ireland only just scraped through as the group was decided by the narrowest of margins - goals scored - although justice was done as the Norwegians went home.

Saudi Arabia were the surprise side in the final group, as they managed to split the Benelux domination of Holland and Belgium.

Belgium had been set to win the group but were beaten by the Saudis in the group decider, thanks to an amazing solo goal from Saeed Owairan.

So having spent a fortnight getting rid of just eight teams, the competition really got going as the knockout phase arrived.

Signs of German weakness were evident as they beat Belgium 3-2, but Spain were way too strong for the Swiss in Washington.

Sweden ended Saudi Arabia's hopes with a 3-1 victory, while the hosts made their exit despite playing against a 10-man Brazil side for much of their tie following Leonardo's dismissal.

The Irish also bowed out as they returned to the heat of Florida and were well beaten by the Dutch who were aided by a Packie Bonner error.

A big shock was on the cards with just two minutes to go when Nigeria took on Italy.

HOME NATIONS

England came up short in their attempts to qualify for USA 1994. The Three Lions finished third in Group 2 behind table-toppers Norway and second-placed Holland. Their undoing was a 2-0 defeat in Rotterdam versus the Dutch. They won their final qualifying game versus San Marino but it was not enough to secure their place across the Atlantic. Northern Ireland finished fourth in their qualifying group, having been drawn alongside neighbours Republic of Ireland, who ended up as runners-up. Wales battled for qualification but ultimately fell short as Belgium and Romania advanced. Had they beaten Romania in their final match, things could have been a different story. Scotland could not do enough to progress from their difficult group that included the likes of Italy, Switzerland and Portugal. A lack of firepower and a shaky defence cost them.

But talisman Roberto Baggio came up with the goods for Italy after Gianfranco Zola had been sent off and the Italians won 2-1 after extra-time.

The goalposts collapsing causing a lengthy delay was the most memorable thing about Romania's penalty shoot-out victory over Mexico.

One of the Bulgarian scorers was Bontcho Guentchev who would soon line up in the Premier League for Ipswich.

The remaining last-16 clash was a cracker. And it saw the Argentines bow out.

Ilie Dumitrescu scored twice early on and the inspirational Georghe Hagi added another in the second half as Argentina were beaten more convincingly than the 3-2 scoreline suggests.

The tournament had caught light and the quarter-finals helped stoke things up.

Another late goal from Baggio saw Italy beat Spain 2-1 and kept the pony-tailed attacking midfielder as the name on everyone's lips.

On the same day Brazil and Holland served up a cracker and the picture of the competition.

The game sparked into life in the second half as Brazil opened up a 2-0 lead with goals from their livewire strike force of Romario and Bebeto.

The second goal was celebrated in cradle-rocking style by the Brazilians following the birth of Bebeto's baby and was copied by many a child on playing fields across the land.

But the Dutch refused to lie down, levelling the tie with goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Aron Winter before Branco netted a late winner with a blockbusting free-kick.

The surprise of the round came the following day in New York when the reigning champions crashed out.

When Lothar Matthaus put them ahead from the spot against Bulgaria all looked well, but two goals in three minutes stunned the Germans.

First Stoichkov levelled and then the balding Yordan Letchkov produced a famous diving header to put his side into the semis.

It was Sweden, not Romania, who joined them in the last four when they won the final tie of the round on penalties.

With the semis keeping Brazil and Italy apart, everyone expected those two to reach the final and the formbook prevailed.

The irrepressible Baggio scored two more as Italy got off to a flier against Bulgaria before holding on for a 2-1 win.

Brazil were also narrow winners, a Romario goal 10 minutes from time putting them into the final after Jonas Thern had been dismissed.

And so to the final.

The superb attacking force that was Brazil went in as the favourites, but with Baggio in outstanding form, could he see the Italians home?

The answer was no as Baggio turned villain.

After what was a disappointing final which ended goalless after extra-time, the cup was to be decided on penalties for the first time in World Cup history.

Franco Baresi and Marcio Santos both missed early kicks and when Daniele Massaro's penalty was saved by Taffarel, it left Baggio needing to score to keep his side in it.

The pressure told as the Italian blazed the ball into the crowd and instead of ending as a hero he left with zero, Brazil lifting the trophy for a record fourth time.

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